Luke 9

Jesus now sent his 12 disciples to announce the kingdom of God and demonstrate its authority by casting out demons and healing the sick. Jesus was training them to carry on his work after he was gone.

Take nothing for the journey: They were to depend on God and on the kindness of the people they served.

Whatever house you enter, stay there: They were to develop lasting relationships and be content without seeking better lodging or provisions.

shake the dust off your feet: Using a symbol of rejection, they were to leave such a town to the judgment it deserved.

Jews expected the prophet Elijah would arrive before God's final judgment (see study note on 1:17). Some Jews expected a prophet like Moses would come (Deuteronomy 18:15).

I beheaded John: See Mark 6:14–29.

• He withdrew: Jesus knew the disciples needed a time to focus on spiritual matters.

• Bethsaida was on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, east of the Jordan River. It was the hometown of Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1:44; 12:21).

The feeding of the 5,000 recalls God’s miraculous feeding of Israel with manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16; see also 2 Kings 4:42–44). It points forward to God’s final salvation as a great feast for all nations (Isaiah 25:6–8; 65:13–14; Luke 14:15–24).

He welcomed them: Jesus wanted to go away in private with his disciples, but he had compassion on the crowds and ministered to them.

You give them something to eat: After their ministry of healing the sick and casting out demons, Jesus wanted the disciples to demonstrate faith in God’s ability to feed the crowds.

twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over: God abundantly provides for his people.

Peter's confession that Jesus was the Christ (or Messiah) marked a turning point. Until then, Jesus had shown his authority as God's promised leader through miracles. Now he began to explain that the Messiah would suffer in an unexpected way.

Jesus accepted this confession, but he made it clear that his role as Messiah would include suffering and death. He also called his disciples to follow him no matter the cost.

others say Elijah: See study note on 9:8.

The Christ: This phrase could be translated "the LORD's anointed," a title for the king of Israel (1 Samuel 24:6, 10; 2 Samuel 19:21; Psalm 2:2). David was the LORD's anointed, and so was the Christ.

not to tell this to anyone: Jesus did not want to inspire the people to fight against Rome. His mission was to suffer, die, and rise from the dead.

• must suffer many things: This was the first prophecy of Jesus about his coming death in Jerusalem (see 9:44; 17:25; 18:31–34). Jesus would fulfill the prophecies in Isaiah 52:13–53:12. These prophecies describe the Lord's servant (the Messiah) who offers himself to save God's people. These events were part of God's purpose and plan.

  Despite opposition from human beings and from the spiritual forces of Satan, God works through the actions of human beings to accomplish his purposes. Though wicked men plotted against Jesus and put him to death, God accomplished salvation by raising Jesus from the dead (Luke 24:7, 26–27, 44–47; Acts 2:23–24; 3:18; 4:28).

• chief priests: Though Israel had only one high priest, the upper-class priests were the wealthy ruling class. They served on the Sanhedrin (the main Jewish council) and held positions of power in Jerusalem.

take up his cross daily: This did not simply mean carrying a heavy burden. It meant dying a violent death on a cross. Believers must be fully willing to die to themselves and live for God, even if following him costs them their lives.

If anyone wants to come after me: After predicting his own suffering and death, Jesus taught that all who follow him must also experience death to self.

whoever wants to save his life: Trying to keep control of your own life instead of trusting God suggests that putting yourself in God’s place denies that Jesus is king. The result is that a person will lose true life, especially at the final judgment (9:26; John 12:25).

the Son of Man … when He comes in His glory: See Daniel 7:13–14; “The Son of Man” Theme Note.

This difficult verse might refer to:

1. the second coming of Christ;

2. the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70;

3. the resurrection of Jesus; or

4. the transfiguration (when the appearance of Jesus changed and his glory was shown), which immediately follows in 9:28–36.

The last possibility is the most likely.

• About eight days later: Mark's Gospel says "after six days," referring to full days. Luke only includes parts of days.

• Peter, John, and James were the disciples who were closest to Jesus (see also 8:51; Mark 14:32–33).

• a mountain: The traditional site of the transfiguration is Mount Tabor in southern Galilee. Some people think it was Mount Hermon, because it is closer to Caesarea Philippi, where Peter declared that Jesus is the Christ (Luke 9:18–27).

At the transfiguration, Jesus revealed his true glory in the presence of three disciples. This confirmed Peter's belief that Jesus was the Christ. Moses and Elijah confirmed that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah (the Christ, God's chosen king).

His clothes became radiantly white (literally became bright as a flash of lightning): The glory of Jesus shone through his human body (compare Ezekiel 1:4; Daniel 7:9; see also Exodus 34:29).

His departure: The Greek word exodos means "departure." In the Old Testament, the exodus from Egypt was God's great act of salvation. Similarly, in the New Testament, the departure of Jesus from this world was God's greatest act of salvation. This includes his death, resurrection, and ascension (going up into heaven). Jesus would accomplish a new and greater exodus.

Let us put up three shelters: The Greek word translated shelter (skēnē) is the same word used in the Greek Old Testament for the tabernacle. This was Israel's tent for worship that they moved with them as they traveled in the wilderness. It also refers to the temporary shelters that Jews used during the Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23:42; Nehemiah 8:14–17). Peter might have wanted to extend the event by providing a place for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah to stay.

and enveloped them: In the Bible, clouds often cover or hide God’s presence (Exodus 16:10; 19:9; 24:16).

• The voice … from the cloud: This reminds audiences of God's voice at the baptism of Jesus (3:22).

• whom I have chosen: This refers to Isaiah 42:1, showing Jesus is the Lord's suffering "Servant."

• Listen to Him!: This is from Deuteronomy 18:15, identifying Jesus as the prophet to come who would be like Moses (see Acts 3:22; 7:37).

my only child: Losing an only son was especially disappointing because it meant no one could continue the family name (compare 7:12; see Genesis 22:16; 1 Kings 17:17–24; Jeremiah 6:26; Amos 8:10; Zechariah 12:10).

A spirit keeps seizing him: Demons sometimes cause physical sickness, such as not being able to walk or not being able to speak (13:11; 11:14).

O unbelieving and perverse generation!: It is unclear whether Jesus was speaking to the disciples or to the people as a whole.

See study note on 9:22.

It was veiled from them: Its meaning was hidden from them. The disciples were often slow to understand because they could not fully see the truth until after the resurrection (see study note on Mark 6:52).

Jesus had just told his disciples that he would suffer and die. Yet they began to argue about which of them was the greatest. This showed surprising pride and a lack of concern for what Jesus had just said.

The disciples did not understand that Jesus would soon die, which was now seen in their pride and selfish attitude.

Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts: See 5:22; 7:39–40.

• Whoever welcomes this little child: To welcome means to honor and treat as an equal. This statement is surprising because, in the time of Jesus, children had no social status in the community. People viewed children as the property of their parents. Jesus took the lowest and most vulnerable members of society and announced that welcoming them was the same as welcoming him.

• in My name: This means “as my representative.”

• whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest: True leadership in the kingdom of Jesus comes from serving others, not the exercise of power (see also Mark 10:42–45).

for whoever is not against you is for you: Although the man who was casting out demons was not one of the twelve disciples, Jesus said he should not be stopped because he was also proclaiming the message of the kingdom. This statement was a proverb (a wise saying), not an absolute rule, since Jesus made the opposite statement in 11:23. Wisdom is needed to apply a proverb correctly in each situation.

Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem: Even though the route was not direct, Jerusalem was his final destination.

The journey to Jerusalem marked a new stage in the mission of Jesus as the Messiah, which would include suffering. During this time, he prepared his disciples for what was ahead, and the Jewish leaders opposed him more and more.

a village of the Samaritans: Jews and Samaritans had a long history of conflict and ethnic prejudice. They hated each other (see study note on 10:33). The Samaritans worshiped on Mount Gerizim and probably assumed that Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem to worship there.

call down fire from heaven to consume them: Some ancient Greek versions add as Elijah did. The prophet Elijah called down fire from heaven three times against God's enemies (1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:1–17). James and John, in their enthusiasm, wanted to do the same.

As he traveled toward Jerusalem to suffer and die, Jesus explained the cost to those who wished to follow him.

no place to lay His head: Any disciple of Jesus must be ready to go anywhere and to give up home and security.

let me go and bury my father: Respect for parents was a very important value in first-century Israel. Among other things, this meant providing them with an honorable burial. Jesus called for a commitment that took priority over all human relationships.

• Let me bid farewell to my family: This statement is similar to the prophet Elisha's request to Elijah (1 Kings 19:19–20). Jesus asked for an even greater commitment from his followers.

• puts his hand to the plow and then looks back: Farmers in the ancient world guided a light plow, a tool used to prepare soil for planting, with one hand and the oxen (work animals used for farming) with the other. Looking away would cause the plow to turn away.

  For a believer, looking back meant placing earthly concerns ahead of God.